One man’s pioneering work in internal radiotherapy has led to a life-changing breakthrough for rectal cancer patients.
For more than 30 years, Professor Sun Myint and his team have been using Papillon therapy to treat patients with rectal cancer. Now this method, which means patients can avoid having a stoma, has been recognised in National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance.
This means eligible rectal cancer patients will be able to choose between Papillon radiotherapy, and surgery which leaves them with a stoma or colostomy bag.
Professor Sun Myint, Clinical Oncologist at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, said:
“Many patients worry about needing a stoma when receiving rectal cancer surgery and the decades-long care that it brings.
“This guidance is a win for patients and a win for clinicians; it is an opportunity save lives, improve patient outcomes and save the health service money on long-term stoma care.
“With the national bowel cancer screening programme finding cancer patients earlier and younger, this treatment offers them a non-invasive and highly effective choice.
“After years of work across the cancer community, this lifesaving cancer treatment will finally be available.”
Sarah Quinlan MBE, Director of Radiotherapy UK, said:
“This is an amazing testament to a radiotherapy professional devoted to meaningful change for cancer patients.
“We would like to congratulate Professor Myint and his team for outstanding passion and perseverance.
“Breakthroughs like this show the power of radiotherapy to improve quality of life for UK cancer patients.”
About Papillon radiotherapy
Papillon radiotherapy is a type of brachytherapy, an internal radiotherapy, which means the radiation is placed inside the patient’s body to destroy cancer cells. An X-ray tube is carefully inserted through the anus and into the rectum. The method delivers precise, low doses of radiation directly to tumours.
The update to NICE guidelines means thousands of cancer patients may now be able to avoid having a stoma or colostomy bag fitted.
This treatment will avoid the need for more invasive surgery and a stoma in more than half the patients currently diagnosed with rectal cancer.
It is estimated that this change could benefit up to 5,000 patients each year, ten times more than the 500 currently treated with Papillon radiotherapy.
Professor Sun Myint and his team
In 2018 the Papillon team, led by Professor Sun Myint, won the prestigious BMJ Cancer Care team of the Year award.
In 2021, Professor Sun Myint received a lifetime award for his contributions in advancing radiotherapy in Europe. In 2022 he received the lifetime achievement award at Clatterbridge’s Staff Excellence Awards, in recognition of his work and having worked at the centre for 44 years.